Fluid treating apparatus for strands



Dec. 29, 1953 P. n. EMERSON FLUID TREATING APPARATUS FOR STRANDS Filed May 2, 1951 R. n MN P. m0 n V5 u mm M E D. L u w l m ww Y v a w Q n .QNQNQ .3 N a n d :n Y! |15 m n .l IIII Il Q H13- i m Q .A Q E `Patented Dec. 29,

l sfrnANDS Pa,.,\.a'ssignor, mesne assignmentsgstogThe Chemstrand Corporation; Philadelphia, Re.Y @corporation of, Delaware 'tlltieii Ma 2l i951, serviaiNo. 224,204

strands and like me:

natural, synthetic,- or -a'rti-i'cialyarns and monoquidor vapor-Y con- Y filaments `wltnprllili mdia in; dition in a. substantiallyhclosed!chamber during? their travel'l fronilon'efpoit to-"ar1otl1er. liurtller;I the invention is .concerned'withsutilizing 'Fluid media for. applyingefheatftoilarnentaryamate;

rial, or` for applying,"heat*y While l'sirriilltaneonslyso'fteninglthetextil 'material by virtue-'f a swell-f= ing or solvent tactical-,ottawa vaporsi lthereupollgr it lai'nlls".-

t improved-.appele the? inventionv` relatesr The inventionis furthery adapted topl'asticizinaA or softening textile materials;especiallywhen:in

the form. of: yarn-like'- bundles: when' it 'desired y to shrink or stretch;.orotherwis-treat,such materials insoftenedconditiini.1.7;,f ,Y

Strand, as used .throughoutzrthis specicaze tion,v and the appendedlclaimswis intendedltogihiments.V fibers, .ibrouls abundlesarbundles -of Llafz ments or' l'ilamentaryfmaterialiV ribbons', bands; extrudedwirarodsaridtheflikeietdi -1 i.;

cellulose ,ethersp and; esterel` sjuchfas; methyl .nella-,1I lose, hydroxyethyl. celluloseaethylf celluloseli .etes a Cellulose nitrate: Celluloseffaetatazcellulosel pro- `y pionatei vcellulose butyl mixed; celluloselethers'.

and esters, `vinyl resins-such ,aszpolyacrylonitrile1; l

copolymers of acrylonitrile; ,pplyeth'y1ene`, poly-.1:

vinyl chloride, copolymersf vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate orv arylonitri1e, after. chlorinated vinyl polymers andleollolymera'vinylidene:polymers,such as polyvinyldene' chloride, etc.,ar1d

condensation` polymers'gsuohj as' polyamdes and polyestersand the likaetc. l

Thelknown apparatusflafor. the treatment of strands withkiluidstin @liquid orva'p'orconditionl during their trayelrfrom one point to another comprise aA substantally'.,closednchamber, into which the strandssps ,through orioesgwhich have dimensions.onlypslightly greaterithan thosev of .the cross-sections ogth'estrandsin `order vto reduce loss; of treatingfluidxas far? as possible.:A`

For example-it isjgcustomaryto treatlsynthetic or artificial strands :with/steam for .the purpose of altering their propertiesisuch aslby stretchingv the strandsl in'aripetmospherefof:.steam .undem` pressure ror glpyrermittings the strands to shrink duringthe steamy treatmenl'r.V

f thread er leeegthe materials' through the` f' H. 'if @lair Various-and sundry typesf'lofi apparatus have i beenV devised-ffor'ftreatin strands With la' fluid niedium,-both in afliqidjandvapor oollditioil,A Each o the apparatuses/'llas been designed Witllfa specific purposeinv mind, however, and the u'lti-l mate overall apparatus, suitablefor, all kinds of operations, 'ha`sf\notas-yet been attained In? the construction'v of-'-fstrandetreatingapparatus there arefvarioulspobleliis which must loe#,solved-l and. overcome; For example,'they-threading t l such apparatus'I presents ,duite'la problenl be itis necessary, each time@that-"a fre'slilbatch of materialsfor strandsis to be .treatedlto open the. .apparatus VSuloeItly']` to :niake"it' posl'sllt'O"y oes' therein by hand?. This involveSv-'loss of treat 'ertrk nula and else-loss prin-eat'when'theoloeratie4 conducted at 1 a il sup'eratin'osl'cilleric!V temperature; particularly'f itis necessary to alloxith ap" l" ratus torcoollbeforeiiitrca blhandle The fore, Vthe apparatusmustlbefso"constructedthat it can be easily'and readily threaded'when necessgiry.r` l gli. 2.2; 11i" l The threading' ofstheeapp'aratus ls'lmade more difficult by the fact that it is necessary tha'teth'ef-` strand entranceand.:exitoriflces must be'` as small as possible inorder to preventthe-escap :of treat-y ingi fluid, suoh: as steam',"'andlthblike, :fromthe treating chamber. lf-' Ih'el escap'eof treating fluid? is vundesirable in'that lit has-an'adves'e y effect on' thestra'nds'beihg treated That ilsfthr-'fis a' pressure dr'opia'cros's thejo 11i-ces or-o'penings andin treating'f u'id, rsuch' as stea'ingf 'escaping there through exerts airikitional "effect on 'the' strands! passing-v through* 'the orifices? yl/lli'chl4 sets up" 'l'a'n' irregular` and uncontrolled tensionin'the strandr lnieddltlon to theffterislon -fexer-ted by anyfm charlie-el stretehingf'deviees; Thereforeglt lsde- -1 sirablethat` Ythesize-"Tof th clirilioes'loe'keptas, f small as `possible"ivlile fatt'he1 'sarna/'time being" so constructed that the apparatus may bereadily' and easily threaded. l

Further, treating ay strand which" corn?- prises aplurality'fof rflanl or-bers, a tow, andthe lll e,flhfaheatlg nula und ber's yand iilam'entsare"forinedfrom mate such as. copolymers ofearylonitrile an fthe Inl :such Leases the .iiibersf and ilanilen'tsl' rn separatdor preventedfromadheringto on an Y other and this must be done in sucll`-"a'fr`rlan'n asxnetito detrlmentaily-affeetfthe slzeof'theife I trancefand-j.exitlzoric'estand -al's-"sofas not" to affect the threading of the apparatus.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for the continuous treatment of strands with a uid material, in either liquid or vapor condition, which overcomes the hereinbefore mentioned difficulties and disadvantages and is designed .so as to incorporate all of the desired features hereinabove pointed out.

It is another object of the invention to provide a strand-treating apparatus which is easily threaded, and produces strands in loose and separated condition when a plurality thereof are being treated, and in addition, is readily adjustable as to pressure within the treating chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the discription thereof hereinafter.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished by passing a strand to be treated continuously through a chamber while at the same time passing a fluid medium, such as steam or super-heated steam, through the chamber in the same direction as the travel of the strand. The strand enters the chamber through an adjustably mounted nozzle, the opening in which is only slightly larger than the strand passing therethrough. An opening which is one to three times the diameter of the strand passing therethrough in size is satisfactory. rIhe strand after passing through the nozzle enters a larger f chamber or tube while at the same time steam or other fluid is injected into the chamber at the point of entrance of the strand therein. Upon leaving the chamber, the strand passes through an expansion nozzle, which has a Venturi opening therein, and into an enlarged chamber or mutiler and then into an elongated tube, the opening in which is only slightly largerly than the strand passing therethrough, for example, a capillary tube, which tube serves as the exit orifice and is slidably mounted in one face or wall of the muliier in perfect alignment with the overexpanded nozzle. Here again, an opening-one to three times the diameter of the strand is satisfactory.

In the muier or expansion chamber the steam or other fluid medium reaches a turbulent state by reason of passing through the funnel-shaped portion of the expansion nozzle at the entrance thereto. The steam and the like passes through the constricted portion of the Venturi opening in the expansion nozzle and enters the funnel shaped portion thereof with a rush causing the turbulence which in turn causes the adhering strands to separate prior to passing out of the apparatus through the exit orifice. It is to be understood, of course. that the size of the strand entrance nozzle and the slidably mounted tube in the wall of the muliler which acts as an exit orifice are dependent upon the size of the strand being treated.

Since the present invention is applicable to numerous and different types of strand-treating apparatus, for simplicity the invention will be described in detail as the same is employed in connection with a strand-stretching device or tube, it being understood that the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing is merely intended to be illustrative and the invention is not to be limited thereby, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section of a single preferred strand-treating tube.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of an arrangement of a plurality of the strand treating tubes, such as shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation view of a portion of the preferred strand-treating tube showing another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to all figures of the drawing a strand 3 passes around a godet 4 and an associated lapdisplacing guide 5, through a nozzle B, a iiuid treating chamber or tube 1, which is positioned in and extends through the fluid chamber or tube 21, through an expansion chamber or muier 8, and through an elongated tube or capillary 9, and then about another godet or wheel I0 and its associated lap-displacing guide II and then to the point of ultimate use, etc. The tube 21 may be made of porcelain, iron, steel, copper, and the like, but is preferably made of a metal which is resistant to the particular fluid being employed therein. The tube or chamber 21 may be wrapped or lagged with a suitable insulating material I2, such as asbestos, rock wool, cork, or the like. If desired, the tube 21 may be jacketed and aheat-exchanging liquid or gas, such as hot or cold water, steam, etc., passed therethrough (see Figure 3). The godet I0 may travel at the same, slower, or faster speed than godet 4, depending on whether shrinkage, stretching, or neither is desired.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the tube 21 is enclosed by a jacket 52. Attached to the jacket 52 is an inlet conduit 53 and an outlet conduit 54 for passing the heat-exchanging liquid or gas through the jacket. If desired, the direction of fiow of the heat-exchanging liquid or gas through the jacket may be reversed, in which case inlet conduit 53 will become an outlet conduit and outlet conduit 54 will become an inlet conduit.

Threaded on to the strand-entrance end of tube 21 is a cap or closure I3 which has an annular groove I4 on the inner face thereof and has an opening I5 through the center thereof. Threaded on to the cap I3 is a packing gland IB which abuts against the packing I1 which is positioned about the opening I5. Threadedly mounted in the packing gland is the nozzle 6 which extends through the opening I5 of the cap I3 making a sliding iit therewith. The nozzle 6 extends into the Venturi opening I8 in the member I9, which is positioned in the tube 1 and abuts against the cap I3. The flanged portion 20 of the member I9 has a series of openings 2| therein arranged in a circle and communicating with the annular groove I4 in the cap I3.

On the other end of tube 21 there is a fitting 22 rigidly attached to the tube. Threadedly mounted in the fitting 22 is an expansion nozzle 23, the Venturi opening 24 in which communi- Cates with the opening 25 in the fitting 22 which in turn communicates with the tube 1 mounted in fitting 22 and extending through the interior of tube 21 and being connected at its other end to the member I9. The expansion nozzle 23 extends into and communicates with the expansion chamber or muiiier 8. Mounted on one wall of the muier 8 and fastened thereto by means of wingnuts 23 is a plate 28, which has a bearing 30 extending outwardly from the center thereof. Slidably mounted in the bearing 3I'I is an elongated tube or capillary'S on one end of which is an enlarged portion 3| which, when the tube is in normal operating position, abuts against the inner wall 8a of the muler 8, as shown in Figure 1. The opening or capillary 32 in the tube 9 lfansout into theunnelxshaped entrance opening 33 in the-.enlargediportion or i'iange Si. This opening'isfof the `samesize and inperiect alignment with the funnel-shaped portion et of Venturi opening 24. Thus at'the `start of operation, or at any-other time thereafter when it is necessary to thread the apparatus, the tube il is moved to the right, as'viewed in Figure l, until the portion `3I abuts vagainst the expansion nozzle 23. This is shown by the dotted line position 6a of the tube in Figure 1. There is thus presented one continuous passage throughout the apparatus, namely through the opening 6a, in nozzle 6, through the member I9, tube l', iitting 22, expansion nozzle 23 and tube 9. The apparatus is threaded byplacinga kvacuum line on the tube 9 whenlitis in the'dottedline position da and then drawing 'the vstrand through the apparatus. Y

Attached to the lower portion of the fluid chamber or tube 21 is a conduit 35 which acts as a iluid or steam inlet. A second conduit 36 also positioned at the bottom of tube 21 serves as a "luid or condensate outlet. Threadedly mounted in the top of tube 21 is apressure gauge which communicates by means of` opening 39 with the outer uid chamber 31. Threadedly mounted in the tting 22 is a pressure gauge 46 which communicates by means of opening 4i with the opening 25 in the fitting or block 22. 0

That is to say gauge '38 measures the fluid chamber pressure and gauge 46 measures strand- 'treating tube pressure.

Mounted in the top of the muffler 8 is a plug 152 which rests or is otherwise fastened in the upwardly extending conduit portion 42a of mufiier t and which when removed, presents an opening by means or" which the interior of muffier i5 may be cleaned when desired or necessary. A holding chain 43 is connected at one end to the muffler 6 and at the other end to the plug d2. For convenience of removal a handle is fastened to the plug 42.

To the lower face of the muffler 8 there is connected, by means of a pipe coupling 45, a conduit i6 which has a quick-opening gate valve 41 positioned therein. The conduit 46 is connected at its other endto the pipe 48 which serves as an exhaust header. The purpose of conduit 46 is to carry the exhaust steam or other treating fluid from the mumer or expansion chamber 8 baci; to the source of supply, to Waste, to the atmosphere, or to a recovery system, as desired.

The valve i1 is actuated by means of the removably mounted wrench-like handle 49.

in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 a plurality of yarn or strand-treating tubes are arranged side by side and are fastened together by means ci the plate 50 which acts as a wall :for each ci the muiliers 8. Each ofthe strandtreating tubes shown therein is identical in construction to the tube shown in Figure 1. It is to be understood of course, that only one steam exhaust header, such as that shown at 48 in- Figure i, need be employed in the embodiment in'Fig-l ure 2.

Referring again to Figure l, the steam Vor other fluid enters the fluid chamber-31 through conduit and passes through the openings 2| into the annular groove I4 and then into the tube 'l' through the Venturi opening I8. The leading tapered end 5I of nozzle 6 extends into the Venturi opening i8 and the steam entering the tube 1 passes over and in contactwith the tapered portionti. l ,By screwing the, nzzle 1uwardlyor outward-lyyin the .packing ,gland .I6 4.the size .of the opening between .the-.member .I 9l and the tapered portionf Ilof-nozzlef6.may..beadjusted so as to allow more or less A.steam or other uid tol enter lthe rinterior-oi-tube 1. The nozzle 6 ywill turn freelyin the pack-ing, .and loosening of the packing lgland .I6 is noty essential. The packing I1 exerts,sufficientlfrictiontofhold nozzle 6 in the desiredfijiosition.` .1f desired, however, when adjusting-nozzle, .the packingfgland I6 may be loosened .prior to .screwing or unscrewing nozzle 6 .and .then retightened. This is an `vimportant `feature .of the present. invention since by means oi the adjustable nozzle i5 the .pressure in the :tube 1 lmay .beregulated It is also `signiicant to .note thatfby arranging the openings .2l in a circle about the tube .1 the `steam is.v directed into -the tube Y1y completely and uniformly surrounding thestrandpassing therethrough. Due to the construction of the. orice for the passage of steam into tube 1, .the steam is prevented from passingout through the opening 6a in nozzle 6 thereby eliminating any danger of damage to the strand which would result therefrom.

The strand and thefsteamipass through the tube 1 and vthence through the constrictedportion 24a of the expansion nozzle '23 and vthen into the muflier or expansion chamber `8. As the steam v.passes n'toftlfiel mu'iiler 8'it creates quite a turbulence `therein 'and 'especially in opening 34, which causes. the 'strands or 'la- 'ments passing therethrough to '.separate. This is particularly advantageous Vwhen treating 'a strand such asJaftow.,"'Theforcejof thesteam entering the 'inuiiler 8 `|forcesy l the 'enlarged portion'3l of tube`9 'againstithewallta of themufyler thus`holding itin'operative position. The exhaust' steam then. passes' out'of the 'apparatus through the conduit '46.

By having' the' steam enter' .thek tube 1 lcompletely surrounding thestrandfjthereis a'p'arallel ilow of the steam and 'strand through the apparatus thus alleviating any danger of the strand' rubbing the'interior'wallsof the'tube' 1 and becoming damaged thereby. If desired, thev tube 1 may have a capillary bore thereinfof'equal diameter to the bore in the nozzle andthe slidable tube '9. This is possible since "the apparatus is arrangedto be 'easily and "readily threaded irrevspective'of the size'of'the'opening in the tube. By employing an expansion chamber or muffler adjacent the exit oriiice of the 'apparatus the objectionable escape of steam'or other fluid treating material'through the exit orice is alleviated.

While steam has beenjspecifically referred to in describing the apparatus, 'itistobe understood that the inventionv contemplatesthe `use 'of other vapors, for example, acetone or acetoneacid and acetone-steammixtures, air, formaldehyde, chlorine, and "othertoxic,corrosive, or obnoxious gases, -etc.,"an`d variousliquida'such as Water, alkalies, acids, organic or inorganic solvents, and solutions of solids/and gases in liquids.

By means of .the present invention, threading 'of the strand treating' tubes "or: chambers is`greatly facilitated Without` opening the "chamber and Vvwithout increasing fthe sizejof the strand inlet andexit oriiices. i In addition it is `possible by means'of they present apparatus to easily regulate the .pressure ofv the steam and'other duid in the tube while the the Sametime reducing to a minimumthe loss of jsteamerother fluid from the apparatus through' the `inlet and exit4 orices. Eurther`, 's trands' 'which have,alltendencyfto stick together when stretched and heated leave the apparatus in separated condition and all danger of sticking together is alleviated by means of the present invention.

The present invention embodies a new and unique combination of beneficial and novel features not heretofore presented in the strandtreating apparatus art. The device is simple in construction and may be produced at a minimum of cost. The present apparatus closely approximates the ultimate desired in strand treating apparatus. Numerous other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the drawing and description are merely intended to be illustrative and that changes and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for treating continuously moving strands with fluid comprising an elongated cylindrical straight tube, means for continuously passing a strand through the tube, a

fluid chamber surrounding the tube, a cap mounted on one end of the tube and chamber, said cap having an annular groove on the inner face thereof, said tube opening into the annular groove, a nozzle threadedly mounted in the cap and extending into the tube opening, a strand entrance orifice in the nozzle, said nozzle being movable toward and away from the tube, a fluidexpansion chamber connected to the other end of the tube, a Venturi tube positioned in alignment with the tube and extending into the expansion chamber, said fiuid expansion chamber having a member slidably mounted in an opening in the end-wall thereof, said member comprising a fiange-like portion inside the expansion chamber abutting against the end-wall thereof in normal operating position and an elongated portion extending outwardly through the opening in the end-wall of the expansion chamber, said flangelike portion and elongated portion having openings therein for the passage of the strand therethrough, the opening in the flange-like portion flaring out in a direction toward the Venturi tube, said member being movable toward and away from the Venturi tube, conduit means connected to the expansion chamber for removing fiuid therefrom, conduit means for supplying uid to the iiuid chamber, and means adjacent the strand-entrance orifice for directing the fiuid from the fluid chamber to the elongated tube through the annular groove on the inner face of the cap.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the opening in the elongated portion of the member is a capillary which is in alignment with the opening in the flange-like portion of the member.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the axes of the strand entrance orifice, the opening in the elongated cylindrical straight tube, the opening in the Venturi tube, and the openings in the member are coincident.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein there are conduit means connected to the expansion chamber for removing iiuid therefrom.

5. An apparatus as defined in cla-im l5 wherein the strand-treating chamber comprises an elongated cylindrical straight tube.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim wherein the opening in the slidable member is in align- 'ment with the opening in the strand-treating 8 chamber, and wherein the strand-treating chamber comprises an elongated cylindrical straight tube, and wherein there are conduit means connected to the expansion chamber for removing fluid therefrom.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein there are conduit means connected to the expansion chamber for removing fiuid therefrom.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the strand-treating chamber comprises an elongated cylindrical Straight tube.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the axes of the strand-entrance orifice, the opening in the elongated treating chamber, the opening in the Venturi tube, and the opening in the slidable member are coincident.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the slida'ble member comprises a fiange-like portion inside the expansion chamber abutting against the end-wall thereof in normal operating position and an elongated portion extending outwardly through the opening in the end-wall of the expansion chamber, said capillary opening in the slidable member flaring out in a direction toward the Venturi tube.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the strand-treating chamber comprises an elongated cylindrical straight tube and wherein there are conduit means connected to the expansion chamber for removing fiuid therefrom.

l2. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the axes of the strand-entrance orifice, the opening in the treating tube, the opening in the Venturi tube, and the opening in the slidable member are coincident.

13. An apparatus as delined in claim 16 wherein the entrance to the strand-treating chamber comprises a Venturi throat.

14. An apparatus for treating continuously moving strands with fiuids comprising, an elongated strand-treating chamber, a fluid chamber surrounding the treating chamber, a closure mounted on one end of the iiuid chamber, said closure having an annular groove on the inner face thereof, a flange on the entrance end of the treating chamber abutting against the inner face of the closure, a plurality of openings in the flange connecting the fiuid chamber and annular groove, said treating chamber opening into the annular' groove, an adjustably mounted member in the closure extending into the entrance end of the treating chamber and movable toward and away from the entrance end of said treating chamber, said groove, being concentric with the member and said groove and member forming an annular passage whereby the fluid can fiow from the fluid chamber into the treating chamber, a strand-entrance orifice in the member, a second closure on the other end of the chambers, an expansion nozzle mounted in the second closure and communicating with the treating chamber, said expansion nozzle having an opening therein with walls diverging in a direction away from the treating chamber to allow the fluid from the treating chamber to expand as it passes through the expansion nozzle, and means for supplying fluid to the fiuid chamber.

l5. An apparatus for treating continuously moving strands with fluids comprising, an elongated strand-treating chamber, a fluid chamber surrounding the treating chamber, a closure mounted on one end of the fluid chamber, said closure having an annular groove on the inner face thereof, a flange on the entrance end of the treating chamber abutting against the inner face of the closure, a plurality of openings in the frange connecting the fluid chamber and annular groove, said treating chamber opening into the o nular groove, an adjustably mounted member in the closure extending into the entrance end of treating chamber and movable toward and away from the entrance end of said treating chamber, sai:1 groove being concentric with the member, and said groove and member forming an annular passage whereby the fluid can flow from the fluid chamber into the treating chamber, a strand-entrance orifice in the member, a second closure on the other end or" the chambers, a fluidexpansion chamber' connected to the second closure, an expansion nozzle mounted in the second ciosure and communicating with the treating chamber expansion chamber, said expansion nozzie having an opening therein with walls diverging in a direction toward the expansion chamber' to allow the iiuid from the treating chamber to expand as it passes through the expansion nozzle, said expansion chamber having a member siriably mounted in an opening in the end-wali thereof, said slidably mounted member being movable toward and away from the strandtreating chamber, an opening in said slidable member for the passage of a strand therethrough, and means ici' supplying uid to the huid chamber,

i9 An apnaratus for treating continuously ng strands with fuids comprising, an elonc. strandutreating chamber, means for conn tinuousiy passing a strand through the treating chamber, a fluid chamber surrounding the treating chamber, a closure mounted on one end of the fluid chamber, said closure having an annular groove on the inner face thereof, a flange on the entrance end of the treating chamber abutting against the inner face of the ciosure, a plurality of openings in the flange connecting the fluid chamber and annular groove, said treating chamber opening into the annular groove, a nozzle threadedly mounted in the closure extending into the entrance end of the treating chamber and movable toward and away from the entrance end of said chamber, said groove being concentric with the nozzle and said groove end nozzle forming an annular passage whereby the rluid can flow from the iiuid chamber into the treating chamber, a strand entrance orice in the nozzle, a second closure on the other end of the chambers, a fluid-expansion chamber connected to the second closure, a Venturi tube mounted in the second closure communicating with the treating chamber and expansion chamber, a slidable member mounted in an opening in the end-wall of the expansion chamber, said siidable member being movable toward and away from the Venturi tube, a capillary opening in said slidable member for the passage of a strand therethrough, and means for supplying fluid to the :fluid chamber.

PAUL D. EMERSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 202,008 iowning Apr. 2, 1878 1,403,126 Lyth Jan. 10, 1922 1,460,972 Monaney July 3, 1923 1,522,092 Bacher Jan. 6, 1925 1,592,171 Bacher July 13, 1926 2,468,081 Koster Apr, 26, 1949 2,568,920 Kinraide Sept. 25, 1951 

